Remembering Matthew Sargent: Annual tournament in Gander has been healing for family

Matthew Sargent’s number was retired by the Gander Minor Hockey Association at the first annual Matthew Sargent Memorial Midget Tournament last year and it continues to hang high in the rafters of the Steele Community Centre.

Eight teams from the central region participated in the tournament which ran from Jan. 18-20 in Gander.

Pictured, from the left, Gander player Adam McCarthy, Tracey Sargent (mother of Matthew), Jacob Sargent (brother), and Jayden Oake from Lewisporte, to open the tournament with a puck drop.

Midget players from the Gander Minor Hockey Association take a moment during the tournament’s opening ceremonies to remember their friend.

Gordon Sargent follows the action of the second annual Matthew Sargent Memorial Midget Tournament, which is dedicated to his son. Gordon is involved in minor hockey but still finds midget hockey hard to watch as it was the division his son was playing in upon his passing in 2016.

GANDER, N.L. —

In the scorekeeper’s box of the Steele Community Centre, Jan. 19, Gordon Sargent followed the play, waiting for the whistle to sound in the Gander versus Bishop’s Falls midget division matchup.

As the game comes to a halt, he hit’s the play button on his cellphone to unleash upbeat music to get the players and fans energized until the action resumes at the second annual Matthew Sargent Memorial Midget Tournament, held Jan. 18–20.

While Gordon is still involved in minor hockey as a bantam coach, taking in midget hockey games comes with a heavy heart for him.

It was the division Matthew, his son, played in until his tragic passing in 2017, at age 14.

But Gordon was out to show his support for the tournament, hosted by the Gander Minor Hockey Association.

“It’s extremely touching,” he said about the minor hockey association holding the tournament and the eight central teams that participated.

“The first annual tournament we were kind of numb and in shock, now, this year reality has set in,” he said. “All we want is our son back, but we don’t get that.”

But having the support of the hockey community has helped.

“Anyone who has lost a child knows it’s a lifelong thing,” he said. “It is healing for the family, coming together with people.”

For members of the Gander Minor Hockey Association, Matthew Sargent Foundation, and Riverstone Construction Inc., which helped organize the tournament, wanted to show its support for the family during such a difficult time.

“Matthew and the Sargents were a huge part of our association, so really, we didn’t even have to second guess that we would do this for the family,” said Joy Murray, one of the organizers.

With eight teams from throughout the central region participating in the tournament, proceeds and donations from the tournament will be donated to the Matthew Sargent Foundation.

Results

After three days of play, Gander’s Team Sargent, took home the gold, with an overtime 6-5 win against Gander’s Team 8, which was also Sargent’s number.